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Two seasons. Two division titles. Two manager of the year awards. One Governors’ Cup championship, and another trip to the finals.

Not bad for Al Pedrique’s tenure as RailRiders manager.

Pedrique’s time with SWB ended Monday, however, when the Oakland Athletics announced the 57-year-old will return to the big leagues to join their staff as the first base coach.

“It’s going to feel great,” Pedrique said when reached by phone Monday night. “I’m excited. ... I know the Oakland A’s have got some young players coming up as well. So, working with young talents at the higher level, it is always a challenge, there’s no doubt about it. But it’s part of the job and you just have to take one day at a time, be ready for the players and make them better.”

It seemed Pedrique could be in line for a spot on New York’s staff, especially with the Yankees choosing to move on from Joe Girardi. But the Yankees completed their search for a new manager without interviewing Pedrique, choosing Aaron Boone from a group of six candidates.

Pedrique sounded disappointed he didn’t at least get a chance to interview.

“I thought that with the job that we did the last two years, all the players that came through Triple-A and made it to the big leagues and played well, I thought at least I would get an invitation for an interview,” Pedrique said. “It didn’t happen. I’m sure they had their reason why they didn’t do it. But that’s baseball. You’ve got to move on. One door closes, another will open. And I’m glad I’m getting the opportunity to get back to the big leagues, and hopefully it will be for a lot of years.”

Pedrique last worked on a major league staff as the Houston Astros’ bench coach from 2010-11. He was the Astros’ third base coach in 2009, and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ third base coach and interim manager in 2004.

Pedrique came to the RailRiders after two seasons with Double-A Trenton, and before that had stints in High-A Tampa and Low-A Charleston.

With the RailRiders this season, he never shied away from saying he hoped to get back to the major leagues. So, when Oakland asked for permission to talk to him, he didn’t hesitate. Athletics manager Bob Melvin and general manager David Forst talked to him about coaching first base and infield, then offered him the job Friday morning, Pedrique said.

“I would have loved to have Al back. Al’s probably been my favorite manager to work with,” RailRiders team president and COO Josh Olerud said. “But (that’s) just the selfish side. I’m happy. That sounds like it’s a good move for him.

“He was everything that we were told that he was going to be. Open communication, and he offered to get involved in the community as well. That’s not something you always get with your manager. And then obviously, the rapport with the players and his staff ... you saw it every day when you’re in the clubhouse. He was very well respected and I think he’s a big part of the success that the Yankees are seeing right now.”

Though he only spent two years with the RailRiders, it doesn’t sound like Pedrique will forget his time in the area soon.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Pedrique said. “As a matter of fact, I called (RailRiders minority owner) Bob Mills and Josh Olerud to let them know how thankful I was. My family and I will always remember those guys, RailRiders staff, fans — we really had a great time there for two years. They treated us well, with respect. I will always be thankful to those guys, the way they treated my family and myself.”

The RailRiders went 177-107 (.623) in the regular season under Pedrique, with his 2016 squad tying the franchise record for wins (91) and setting the club record for winning percentage (.636) in addition to winning the Governors’ Cup. He was named the International League’s top manager both years.

Neither Pedrique nor Olerud know who will take the reins with the RailRiders, though with the Winter Meetings approaching next week, Olerud said he hoped they would learn soon.

Top prospects

Baseball America released its list of the Yankees’ top 10 prospects Monday, and it’s likely most will make their way through SWB at some point this coming season.

Gleyber Torres, the talented infielder the Yankees acquired from the Cubs in the Aroldis Chapman deal in 2016, is the team’s top prospect. Torres played 23 games with SWB before being injured on a play at home plate against Buffalo on June 17. He needed Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing arm, but will likely be ready for spring training.

RailRiders regulars RHP Chance Adams and 3B Miguel Andujar come in at Nos. 4 and 5 on the list, and RHP Domingo Acevedo, who made two starts with SWB this season, is No. 10.

Southpaw Justus Sheffield, ranked third on the list, spent most of 2017 with Double-A Trenton then impressed in the Arizona Fall League after an injury robbed him of some of the second half of the season. Infielder Thairo Estrada (No. 9) also spent last season at Double-A.

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